Broadway Get ready to camp it up and chow down, Aug. 14, when the Off Broadway musical hit, When Pigs Fly, reaches its first anniversary.
At this special birthday performance, not only will the cast recreate its musical number from this year's BC/EFA Easter Bonnet Competition, but the show will be followed by a "Texan `pig roast,'" featuring barbecued pulled pork sandwiches, five-bean salad and cornbread, and birthday cake.
Tickets to the gala are $100, with the money going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which has, since October 1987, raised and distributed $25 million in the fight against the disease.
Howard Crabtree, creator of the critically acclaimed revue Whoop-Dee Doo!, passed away five days after having completed work on When Pigs Fly, which holds true to Crabtree's penchant for outlandish and elaborate costumes.
Crabtree's long-time collaborator and confidant, Mark Waldrop, has said, "Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly really is the show that Howard always wanted to do. Against all odds he finished the costumes for it just before he died -- and they're his best, funniest, most sophisticated creations ever." Dedicated to the memory of Crabtree, When Pigs Fly tells the tale of Howard, (a character not unlike Mr. Crabtree), who is in charge of putting together an over-the-top revue but finds himself going over hurdles and combating negative attitudes. The situation is further worsened when his high school guidance counselor keeps popping up to warn him of the pitfalls of the career he's chosen. When asked if she thinks Howard will make good on his theatrical career, she retorts "When Pigs Fly!" The show must go on and it does. And in the end, Howard follows his heart.
The show recently passed its 300th performance. Original cast-members David Pevsner, Stanley Bojarski and Michael West (Howard) are still with the show, alongside Keith Cromwell, James Heatherley (who replaced Jay Rogers) and John Wasiniak. Sets and lighting are by Peter Hauser; sound by Rob Gorton.
Pigs won 1997 Outer Critics Circle Awards for Off-Broadway Musical and costume design; Drama Desk Awards for Off-Broadway revue and costume design, a Lucille Lortel Award for costume design, and an all around OBIE.
Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly, previewed Aug. 1 and opened Aug. 14, 1996 at the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre (432 W. 42nd St. between 9th and 10th Avenues). For tickets to both the Aug. 14 special performance, and to regular performances of When Pigs Fly, call Tele-Charge at (212) 239-6200. You can also order tickets on Playbill On-Line.
--By David Lefkowitz and Katia Lundy
